BRITISH GAME-BIRDS. 175 



he was recorded up to 1780. In 1827 or ^28 

 attempts were made to reintroduce him into his 

 old haunts, with the result that the grand birds im- 

 ported from Sweden were successfully established 

 in Perthshire in 1837, an d they may now be con- 

 sidered as fairly plentiful in the numerous localities 

 suitable for him. As the capercaillie bird naturally 

 frequents the fir- woods of large extent, he flourishes 

 best where these as a rule form the principal timber 

 trees ; yet he is also found in oak and brush coverts. 

 Owing to the large size of the bird, ordinary ob- 

 servers, seeing him suspended with other game- 

 birds in some game-dealer's shop, might think it 

 a very easy matter to bring him down; but this 

 is not the case: his plumage, which is coloured 

 with grey, warm brown, and that of his upper 

 breast with dark, bright green, falls in so well with 

 the trunk, branches, and foliage of the tree he 

 perches upon, that he rushes down, and swoops 

 up and away, before a shot can be fired at him. 

 Snap-shots are frequent when capercaillie shooting. 

 He moves about on the ground a great deal at 

 certain times and seasons in quest of the various 

 berries which form the greater portion of his food ; 



